Indonesia, Philippines launch joint patrol to tackle IS threat

The naval force of Indonesia in a counter-terrorism excercise in Banda Aceh (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia and the Philippines plan to conduct a joint
maritime patrol this week as part of efforts to prevent militants of the
Islamic State (IS) from entering the Philippines’ restive southern island of
Minadao, where rebels have seized a city.

A Philippine military spokesman said on July 2 that the patrol is intended to
strengthen border security and enhance operational collaboration between the
two countries’ forces.

The two nations’ warships will sail from Davao city of the Philippines on July
6. They will patrol Davao gulf and common waters along the Celebes Sea.

Regional governments fear that fighters pledging loyalty to the IS will cross the
sea from Malaysia and Indonesia to join rebels who seized Marawi city five
weeks ago.

Over 400 people, including fighters, local people and the Philippines’ security
forces, were killed during clashes.

On July 1, the Philippine navy was joined by the US in a patrol in the southern
Philippine waters. Two weeks earlier, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
jointly patrolled their common maritime borders in the Celebes Sea and Sulu
Sea.-VNA